The Mating Games

Chapter 34- Sticky Hands

The line went dead, dangling from my hand I could still hear the dial tone beeping monotonously. I didn't know what to think but I no longer felt crazy for believing my mother was an imposter. Theo's hands found sanction on the curve of my stomach, lately it felt like they had been glued to my body but I didn't mind, I like having him close.

"What are we going to do?" my voice broke off, I didn't want to say it but I knew what needed to be done.

"For now, we pretend like everything is normal. It shouldn't take your dad too long to get here and when he does we can contain her, try to find out who she is and what she wants." Theo had jumped into alpha mode, there was a cold disconnection in his voice and although his hands were warm and comforting,I felt anything but. I pulled away from him, wrapping my arms across my chest to protect myself; Theo hung his arms loosely by his sides, fingers itching to hold me but I didn't want the comfort.

"She looks exactly like my mother," was all I could I say, the thought was on repeat in my mind and I needed him to understand how this was messing with me without me having to say the actual words.

"I know she does, but that thing out there, that's not your mother," he emphasised the word, taking a step closer to me. "Summer?" His hand reached out to touch my chin, "please look at me," he begged and gently pulled my face until he could see into my eyes. "I'm going to tell a few trusted pack members to keep an eye out, okay? They'll watch to see if anything out of the ordinary happens and make sure you stay safe," a sombre look crossed his face and I caved. My head nodded on its own accord.

I could feel the tears building like an overflowing dam behind my eyes and the distinct tingling in my bottom lip that made me want to bite down, hard; my emotions were all over the place and there was nothing I could do to make them better. It was like being stuck on a roller-coaster, there wasn't any way I could avoid riding it when I was already on and right now, it felt like I was barrelling down.

"Hey now, wipe those eyes," Theo pulled me closer, using a coarse thumb to wipe the small trail of salty tears from my cheek, "it's all going to be alright, I promise," he placed a delicate kiss to the crown of my head and gently pulled me over to the bed. My body collapsed into the welcoming duvet and immediately began digging until my body was cocooned like a caterpillar. Theo chuckled but let me do so, leisurely finding his way under the blanket with me so we could cuddle close. Once I had finally settled and Theo had wrapped his long arm around my body so I could rest on his chest, had I been able to calm down. It was like there was a bubbling pit of anxiety in my stomach that was rising up at any given moment and ready to explode, only to be released in angry tears and chocolate binges.

"I feel better now," I murmured into his chest, letting my cheek rest against his peck. Strong hands stroked at my side, slowly raising my shirt with every motion until it had risen enough so that he could feel the bulging of the baby. His hands traced with such softness that it sent goosebumps across my skin and I shuddered.

"I can't get over how fast your stomach is growing," he whispered after a few minutes. I hummed my response, my brain foggy with comfort. "It's only been five months- Six max, and you look more pregnant than all the diagrams I've seen online," this caught my attention.

"What diagrams have you been looking at?" he blushed a deep red, tilting his head down so I could no longer see into his eyes.

"You know, just the normal stuff for expecting parents," I could feel his embarrassment coursing through his deep voice and I wanted to tease him but I couldn't bring myself to do that to him.

"Have you been researching for the baby?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. He nodded his head, pausing to place a quick kiss on my head before resuming the patterns he was tracing over the hardness of my womb. Theo was right though, my stomach had grown considerably since I had gotten back; that was why he could never seem to keep his hands off it. I wouldn't have admitted it but I too, had caught myself rubbing over the ever expanding mass with wonder.